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Astilbe
Astilbe
Also called false spirea
Astilbe blooms from June through July.
Months here are Northern Hemisphere months; in the Southern Hemisphere, shift them by six months.
Growing Astilbe
Plant it in part shade. It prefers high water. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–8. Expect it to reach about 24 in tall and 20 in wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years (a house reading).
No toxicity note is on file for Astilbe. That is not a clearance: check its safety for people and pets before planting.
What was checked
Mature height and spread, hardiness zones, sun, water, bloom months and color and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant, with what the sources could not settle written down; years to mature size rests on a recorded house rule where no publisher states one, and is marked so; its common name and alternate names have not been checked yet. Each fact above carries its own mark. The planting, spacing and size sections are derived from these checked facts by a fixed rule, not checked separately, and the plant type is the library's own classification.
When to plant Astilbe
Plant Astilbe in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. In zone 5, the middle of its hardy zones 3 to 8, spring means April to June and fall means August or September. Once settled, it blooms from June to July.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar; if you garden near zone 5, the middle of this plant's hardy range, start with zone 5 in April. Derived from the plant's category, zones and bloom months plus typical zone frost dates, not checked separately.
How big does Astilbe get?
24 intall5 ft 7 inan adult20 inwideSee Astilbe in a garden plan: the planner shows it in 3D beside everything else you add, growing toward this size over the years.
How far apart to plant Astilbe
Derived from the mature spread above by a fixed rule, not checked separately: spacing is the spread, center to center.
Space Astilbe about 20 in apart, center to center, so each plant has room to reach its full width.
Add Astilbe to a garden plan and the planner draws it at its full width, so you see the spacing before you buy.
Where these facts come from
Astilbe's height, spread, hardiness zones, sun, water, bloom months and color, trait tags, soil, diseases, pests and toxicity were checked against 17 published sources on August 24, 2026. Each one is linked below with every fact it carried, which can include a fact this page still marks as not yet checked, because a source carrying a value is not the same as the value being held to the standard. Facts not in that list, and the planting, spacing and size sections, are not covered by these sources.
- Chicago Botanic Gardenheight, hardiness zones, sun, water, bloom months and color, trait tags, soil, diseases and pests
- Missouri Botanical Gardenheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun, water, bloom months and color, trait tags, soil and pests
- NC State ExtensionPlant Toolboxheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun, water, trait tags, soil, diseases and pests
- The Morton Arboretumheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun, water, bloom months and color, trait tags and pests
- Iowa State University ExtensionYard and Gardenheight, sun, water, bloom months and color, trait tags and soil
- Missouri Botanical Gardenheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun, bloom months and color and trait tags
- Missouri Botanical Gardenheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun, trait tags and diseases
- NC State ExtensionPlant Toolboxheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun, trait tags and diseases
- NC State ExtensionPlant Toolboxheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun, trait tags and pests
- University of Illinois Extensionheight, hardiness zones, sun, bloom months and color and soil
- Missouri Botanical Gardenheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- RHSRoyal Horticultural Societywater, bloom months and color, diseases and pests
- The Morton Arboretumheight, spread, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- Clemson Home and Garden Information CenterClemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Centerheight, hardiness zones, sun and trait tags
- University of Illinois ExtensionHort Answersheight, hardiness zones and sun
- Plants For A Futurewater and toxicity
- uvm.eduUniversity of Vermont Extension, Department of Plant and Soil Sciencetoxicity
How the checking works, and what each standard covers, is on the verified plants page.
Comes in 11 varieties across 4 colors
Same genus, similar care - pick the color you are growing.
- Amethyst
- Bridal Veil
- Deutschland
- Fanal
- Montgomery
- Peach Blossom
- Purple Candles
- Red Sentinel
- Rheinland
- Sprite
- Visions
Compare every variety in the Astilbe group
Every figure is the variety's own page fact. Tap a name to open it.
| Variety | Color | Blooms | Hardiness | Sun | Size (H × W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amethyst | Purple | May–Jun | Zones 4–8 | Part shade | 2.5 ft × 1.5 ft |
| Astilbethis page | Pink | Jun–Jul | Zones 3–8 | Part shade | 24 in × 20 in |
| Bridal Veil | White | Jun–Jul | Zones 3–8 | Part shade | 2.5 ft × 1.5 ft |
| Deutschland | White | Jun–Jul | Zones 4–9 | Part shade | 20 in × 16 in |
| Fanal | Red | Jun–Jul | Zones 3–8 | Part shade | 24 in × 20 in |
| Montgomery | Red | Jun–Jul | Zones 3–8 | Part shade | 24 in × 20 in |
| Peach Blossom | Pink | Jun–Jul | Zones 4–9 | Part shade | 20 in × 16 in |
| Purple Candles | Purple | Jul–Aug | Zones 3–8 | Part shade | 3.5 ft × 2 ft |
| Red Sentinel | Red | Jun–Jul | Zones 4–8 | Part shade | 24 in × 20 in |
| Rheinland | Pink | May–Jun | Zones 3–8 | Part shade | 24 in × 20 in |
| Sprite | Pink | Jul–Aug | Zones 3–8 | Part shade | 12 in × 12 in |
| Visions | Pink | Jul–Aug | Zones 4–8 | Part shade | 16 in × 16 in |
Good to know about Astilbe
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note. A note reports what its source says; where that differs from a fact above, the fact above is this entry's stored value, and its mark says whether it has been checked.
Worth knowing
Deadheading brings no rebloom, so leave the dried plumes standing: they stay ornamental through fall and winter, and cut fresh or dried for arrangements. per NC State and Missouri Botanical
How much sun versus shade
In the cool North it takes more sun if the soil stays moist; in the hot South give it afternoon or fuller shade. Moisture, not sun, decides. per NC State and Clemson
Is it drought tolerant?
Standard astilbes are not drought tolerant and scorch in dry soil. Chinese astilbe (A. chinensis) takes more sun and drought and blooms later: pick it for a drier site. per NC State and Missouri Botanical
Tobacco rattle virus host
Astilbe can host tobacco rattle virus, which mottles the leaves with yellow ring or line patterns. There is no cure: remove and destroy infected plants. per Wisconsin
Deer and rabbit resistant
Deer and rabbits usually leave astilbe alone, and it also tolerates black walnut, heavy shade and wet soil. Very hungry animals may still nibble it. per NC State
Draws butterflies and bees
A useful nectar source for a shady bed: it attracts butterflies and bees and is tagged for butterfly and pollinator gardens. per NC State
Generally pest and disease free
Usually trouble-free with no serious pests or diseases. Minor issues (powdery mildew, tarnished plant bug, Japanese beetle, leaf spot) can appear but rarely kill the plant. per NC State and Clemson
What pairs well with Astilbe
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Azalea
Shares part shade and moderate to high water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Turtlehead
Takes part sun to part shade and high water; blooms in late summer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; echoes the pink.
Flowering Dogwood
Shares part shade and moderate to high water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; its white flowers settle the pink.
Cardinal Flower
Takes part sun to part shade and high water; overlaps, then carries the display into early fall; both are strong pollinator plants; taller at 3.5 ft, for the layer behind it.
Hellebore
Shares part shade and moderate to high water; blooms in late winter, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Summersweet
Shares part shade and high water; overlaps, then carries the display into late summer; both are strong pollinator plants; taller at 6 ft, for the layer behind it.
Snowdrop
Shares part shade and moderate to high water; blooms in late winter, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; lower at 5 in, for the front of the border.
Camellia
Shares part shade and moderate to high water; blooms in midwinter, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; they only overlap in zones 7 to 8.
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